{"product_id":"merchant-of-death-money-guns-planes-and-the-man-who-makes-war-possible-9780470261965","title":"Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes, and the Man Who Makes War Possible","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMerchant of Death: The Viktor Bout Story\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis investigative biography chronicles Viktor Bout, the Russian weapons supplier whose global network fundamentally transformed modern warfare. Written by Douglas Farah, former West African bureau chief of the Washington Post, and Stephen Braun, a Pulitzer Prize-winning national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, this book reveals the inner workings of the international arms trade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Global Arms Network Exposed\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eViktor Bout operated a vast enterprise of guns, planes, and money that fueled conflicts across multiple continents. His network supplied weapons that perpetuated internecine slaughter in Africa while simultaneously aiding militant Islamic groups in Afghanistan and the American military in Iraq. The book documents how one man's operation could serve opposing forces in global conflicts, highlighting the complex and often contradictory nature of the international weapons trade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eInvestigative Journalism Meets Intelligence Thriller\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCombining the rigor of investigative reporting with the narrative drive of an espionage thriller, this work provides documented evidence of how the arms trade operates beyond government oversight. The authors draw on their extensive experience covering conflict zones and international crime to present a comprehensive account of Bout's operations, from his fleet of cargo planes to his financial networks spanning multiple countries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eU.S. Foreign Policy and Global Security\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond the biographical elements, the book examines critical shortcomings in U.S. foreign policy regarding the arms trade. It analyzes how the lucrative and lethal weapons business continues to erode global security, operating in legal gray zones that allow figures like Bout to profit from warfare. The authors present insights into why international efforts to regulate arms trafficking have repeatedly failed and what this means for conflict resolution worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Authors\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDouglas Farah brings his experience as the Washington Post's West African bureau chief and author of \"Blood from Stones: The Secret Financial Network of Terror.\" Stephen Braun contributes his Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative skills as a national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times. Their combined expertise in conflict reporting and international crime investigation provides authoritative depth to this examination of the war economy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis paperback edition offers readers access to one of the most significant investigations into how modern conflicts are sustained through private weapons networks, making it essential reading for anyone interested in international relations, military history, or the mechanics of global conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eDouglas Farah is the former West African bureau chief of the Washington Post, and the author of Blood from Stones: The Secret Financial Network of Terror. STEPHEN BRAUN is a Pulitzer Prize-winning national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Trade Paper Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50680622022930,"sku":"9780470261965","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_ac626069-ad69-485e-9b69-24d250b951a1.jpg?v=1734923324","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/merchant-of-death-money-guns-planes-and-the-man-who-makes-war-possible-9780470261965","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}